ABOUT MILES BRONSON

"This way 30 years has passed, but Assamese language is still flowing like the river Brahmaputra in the state and it will keep on flowing like this forever" - Miles Bronson supporting Assamese against the enforcement of Bangla language in Assam in 19th century.

Miles Bronson was the main leader of the movement against government enforcing Bengali language as the official language in courts, offices, schools in Assam. In 1867 using Jaduram Baruah's scripting he published the first Assamese and English dictionary. The dictionary contained around 14 thousand words and published from Baptist Missionary Press, Sibsagar. This dictionary was another strong step in support of Assamese language. Bronson also started the translation of Bible to Assamese. Bronson also worked towards social reformation of the Assamese society. He established a school for both boys and girls in Nagaon in 1841. Miles Bronson left Assam in 1876 with heavy heart. He said 'I am sadly leaving this place. My heart will always stay back here in Assam.' He breathed hi last in 1883.

Besides writing various books including ‘A Spelling Book and Vocabulary in English, Assamese, Singpho and Naga in 1839, he also wrote two books in the Garo language in 1863. He played the key role in restoring Assamese as official language and medium of instruction in Assam in1873 after it had been replaced by Bengali in 1836 by the British.

Miles Bronson, one of the pioneer American Baptist missionaries who worked in the state of Assam in northeastern India, arrived at Sadia in Assam on 8 July 1838. In the previous year, Nathan Brown and O.T. Cutter, along with their families, landed at Sadia with the objective to go to Northern Burma and South China through Sadia. Initially, as part of their mission, they worked among the local peoples by establishing schools both for boys and girls, writing books in their languages and preaching Christianity in and around Sadia.

After staying about a year, Bronson left Sadia and moved to Jaipur, Assam, in May, 1838. Jaipur, a place on the bank of the Burhi Dihing River, was an important strategic point for the Company Government because of its link road with Burma. Jaipur had connections with adjoining hills including that of Namsang. After the British occupation, the place also became important for large scale tea plantation. At Jaipur, Bronson opened a school with help of Captain S.F. Hannay. During his stay at Jaipur, Bronson spent his time studying languages of the surrounding tribes including that of ‘Namsang Nagas’. The ‘Namsang Nagas’ are called, today, Noctes and Wanchos. The Noctes are concentrated in Namsang, Khonsa and Liju areas in Tirap district of present Arunachal Pradesh in India. The Noctes had close contact with Jaipur and frequently visited the area for salt trade. Most of the people of this tribe could speak Assamese. Therefore, Bronson chose to work among the Noctes with a vision to go to Burma.